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The Worst of Times…the Best of Times

Tom Barnard

he times in which Isaiah lived and prophesied could easily be called the worst of times. King David was a distant memory of better times in Israel’s history. The once powerful nation had been divided and conquered. Some very bad kings had risen to power. Israel had forsaken God and placed their confidence in worldly prosperity, military strength, and idolatry. It was into this setting that Isaiah was called to preach and to prophesy. God had given him a message to proclaim:

 “How the faithful city (Jerusalem) has become a harlot! It (once) was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers…Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.” (Isaiah 1:21-23 NKJV)

But things were about to change. The mood shifts. From the worst of times, the prophet foresees the best of times coming. He announces:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

What strikes me most in this passage are the four Names that define the Son of God. Four names that have changed the world. Four names that place Jesus Christ above every name that has ever been given.

“Wonderful Counselor.” He listens with compassion. Your agenda is his agenda. He listens to a mother’s sob, a father’s plea, a child’s cry, a teen’s prayer. He listens. He asked the helpless cripple at Bethesda’s pool in Jerusalem, “Do you want to get well?” He asked a similar question of Blind Bartimaeus as he was passing through Jericho, “What do you want me to do for you?” He wants to know. Tell him.

“Mighty God.” Isaiah looked down the centuries of time and saw One coming that was equal to God. The Apostle Paul said about Him, “Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God. He existed before God made anything at all, and in fact, Christ Himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for His own use and glory. He was before all else began and it is His power that holds everything together.” Purest power! (Colossians 1:15-17 TLB)

“Everlasting Father.” In the time of the Patriarchs, God’s name was feared. People refused to call him by name out of fear for their very lives. When Moses inquired of the Lord about what he should say to Pharaoh, Moses was told to say, “I Am has sent me to you!”  But years later, in a time when the Children of Israel were beaten down and discouraged, unable to lift their collective heads, Isaiah said his name will be “Everlasting Father.” An eternal, almighty God who thinks like a dad.

“Prince of Peace.” What a beautiful name that is! In the midst of the pillage all around him, Isaiah saw a day when peace would reign. He saw a time when the implements of warfare would be beaten down to make shovels and hoes for planting crops. He saw a time when there would be no more wars. And he saw a time when peace would be the prevailing reality in a world that knows no peace. And it would be led by Heaven’s Peacemaker—the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.

Isaiah didn’t know what his real name would be. But he knew that whatever it was, it would be majestic. And he was right. It is that King of Kings whose birth we celebrate this month. Let His praises begin!